Pioneers

3D Hubs is the world’s largest and fastest growing network of 3D printers. In this interview, founders Bram de Zwart and Brian Garret talk about their inspiration for starting 3D Hubs and what they envision for the company further down the track. 1. What inspired you to start 3D Hubs? While working at 3D… Read more

Serenity Hill and Kirsten Larsen are co-founders of the Open Food Network, a free, open source, scalable e-commerce marketplace and logistics platform that enables communities and producers to connect, trade and co-ordinate the movement of food. What inspired you to start the Open Food Network? We had both done lots of work in policy and research… Read more

Friendsurance is an online p2p insurance platform forging the way for people to get cash back from their insurance premiums. In this interview, co-founder and managing Director Tim Kunde explains how the collaborative platform enables cheaper and easier insurance options. The easiest way to explain Friendsurance is … Friendsurance is the pioneer of peer-to-peer insurance…. Read more

Paul Slezak is co-founder of RecruitLoop, an online platform disrupting the recruitment industry by providing employers with a flexible recruitment solution charged at an hourly rate. In this interview, Paul explains how the platform upends the hiring equation. 1.When you were working in a recruitment agency, what were some of the processes and the culture around… Read more

MentorPitch is a global mentoring platform for companies, universities and interest groups that manages and measures mentoring programs online. In this interview, founder Gerard Kiely explains how he started the platform in Dublin, Ireland. The easiest way to explain MentorPitch is … MentorPitch is the home of mentoring and offers structured online mentoring for businesses, universities and… Read more

SleepOut.com is Africa’s largest social accommodation marketplace connecting travelers looking for cool and unique places to stay with hosts and their empty beds. In 2011 while still working at the UN in Nairobi, SleepOut founder Johann Jenson spent a lot of time visiting Lamu Island where he fell in love with the barefoot bohemian chic lifestyle… Read more

Popup Brands is a marketplace for short-term rentals for commercial spaces ranging from retail spaces to building foyers to event stalls. In this interview, founder Marianella Watman explains how the platform allows small business owners to open shop. 1. What made you interested in starting Popup Brands? Prior to forming Popup Brands I was working… Read more

GRID Finance is an online platform transforming banking and financial services in Ireland by building innovative financial products for the connected generation. In this interview, co-founder and COO Sean O’Riordan explains how the company’s first p2p lending product for small businesses got started. The easiest way to describe GRID Finance is … GRID Finance is… Read more

Mass Mosaic is a website that helps people exchange anything with their friends, groups and peers. In this interview, co-founder Eric Doriean explains how the platform uses exchange to connect and distribute abundance through community. What inspired you to start Mass Mosaic? Mass Mosaic began 10 years ago when Rob Jameson (co-founder, CEO) read and… Read more

Lester Kang is the co-founder of PandaBed (with James Chua) a home sharing marketplace platform that focuses on the Asian region. In this interview Lester shares with Diane Jung, our curator for Asia how PandaBed convinces the culturally conservative Asian market to share its homes. How did you come up with the name PandaBed? The name PandaBed… Read more